Baking soda is awesome, we all know that. That little box of sodium bicarbonate can do so much good in such an environmentally sensitive way. It cleans in a surface and food-safe way and does a bang up job cleaning out the bathroom sink pipes too. But what of its less heralded uses? Let’s list a few.

• It’s a burn treatment: For sunburn, windburn and other minor burns, saturate a washcloth in a solution of four tablespoons of baking soda and one litre of water and apply to the affected area.

• It can fight small grease and electrical fires: By throwing the white stuff at the base of the flames, the heat and baking soda yields carbon dioxide and smothers the flames.

• It can help keep your septic tank in operation: To create a favourable environment for bacteria action, pour a cup down the toilet or sink once a week.

• It neutralizes battery acid corrosion in motors: Apply a paste of 3 parts baking soda and one part water to the corrosive areas of your car or lawn mower motor. Seriously.

• It cuts through stubborn clothing smells: Add a half cup to your washing machine’s rinse cycle and breathe easy again.

Thanks to Arm & Hammer, via Style At Home Magazine, for the tips.